US Soccer Announces New 4-Year Contract for Bob Bradley
USMNT Head Coach Bob Bradley inks 4-year contract with USSF
US Soccer announced late this afternoon that they have extended the contract of U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley. The agreement keeps Bradley working for the federation through the end of 2014.
While Bradley has his detractors his record speaks for itself: Bradley has accumulated a record of 38-20-8 in his four years at the helm of the senior men’s team. He has coached his team to the Round of 16 in this past year’s 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The team also finished atop their group which was a first for US Soccer. Bradley’s team accumulated more points than any other US coach has in CONCACAF qualifying and finished the qualifications to a first place finish. He also led the US Team to its first ever major FIFA competition final by advancing to the championship game against Brazil in the 2009 Confederation Cup in South Africa.
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Douh! x2
Guess we have different standards than Brazil
This has certainly seemed to cause a stir amongst those that follow the USMNT.
Although the track record for returning coaches isn’t that favorable (I believe 5 of 14 returning coaches in WC play have improved the team’s performance compared to 4 years prior) Bob Bradley may be one of those exceptions. I think he stands a much better chance than Arena did.
Here’s my concern though. Where is the thought that perhaps at issue may be Gulati himself as head of USSF? In other words…is at issue the USMNT coach or the players or Gulati?
I’m reminded of Simon Whitehead’s post roughly a month ago where he highlights the lack of England success in WC2010 to lack of “proper” develpment of English foorballers. Is the same thing begining to happen here? Why is it the US cannot produce a true natural striker or a left back? Am I susposed to assume that of the millions of youth players that have played the game in the past 10 years, we didn’t have one player that was able to be developed with the touch to maintain tight control when receiving with their back to the goal? We didn’t have one player that realized they didn’t necessarily have to check back into the hole and immediately play a back-pass to the supporting midfielder? Yes, we have many competing youth sports in this nation, but there wasn’t one player given the freedom to create an attack without limits?
My larger concern stems to the development of players here in the US, not those overseas. This is where I’d love to pick the brain of Renya to see what he’s thinking in regards to USSF changing the approach to player development from the ground up…youth and forward.
The resulting “holes” in the USMNT that where drastically exposed in the friendly against Brazil is my larger concern and why not only Bradley but we as fans are searching for answers. My concern isn’t with Bradley and if his new 4 year contract is appropriate but with the player development. The question regarding player development isn’t a question to be answered by Bradley, but by Gulati which brings me back to asking…Is Gulati the right person to be heading USSF?
@James, “The question regarding player development isn’t a question to be answered by Bradley, but by Gulati which brings me back to asking…Is Gulati the right person to be heading USSF?” I think you hit the nail on the head.
1. Player development. It all starts with great coaching. From what I see at the youth level in MN, we have a bunch of youth coaches that have no business being out on the soccer pitch with players and do not have a clue about the game beyond the fact that the ball is round and the match is 90 minutes long (or whatever the time is for their age group.) Sure, everyone needs the “responsible adult” on the sidelines and in most cases parents are not stepping up. However, part of your responsibility as a “coach” is to be more than a cheerleader–and actually guide your players and take them where they cannot go on your own. If you do not have the time to receive proper coach education, or fail to apply what you learn at coach education to the training/match field, I recommend you go over and stand with the rest of the players.
2. Gulati. I will be honest, I do not know much about the guy, however, I think it is time he pack his bags and leave the USSF. I think one example of this is what USSF is trying to do to D2 soccer in the United States–destroy it. I personally think Bradley and his ineffective style of leadership is merely a symptom of what is wrong with soccer in United States.
As for Bradley and the US in 2014–why even waste time and money by going to Brazil. If they are lucky enough to make it there, I do not see them staying in the tournamnet for more than three matches.
Bob has done a better job than I had expected.
We don’t need no German to run our national team.
I will gladly take money from anyone who is silly enough to bet that the US will not make the 2014 World Cup.
At this point in time in the development of US soccer I don’t really see a big flashy name doing much other than getting a larger than expected blurb in most sports sections. I think it’s still key the national team coach has close ties to our (slowly evolving) system, thats why if Sunil was gonna hire a new coach I was hoping for Sigi. Since he wasn’t available Bob was the next best choice. The whole thing kind of reminds me of MLS coaches, other than Nicol (in previous years) and Backe (so far) what foreign coaches have succeeded in the league?